The next day I drove myself to school in the morning. It was odd to pull into the parking lot without Michael, and I ignored the small voice in my head reminding me that this was what next year would be like.
I had a few precious minutes with him at my locker before we both rushed off to our respective classes. It was only later that I remembered I hadn’t told him about Nell and the weird vibe I’d gotten.
My History midterm was that day after lunch. My confidence in Mr. Frame and his straightforward tests was justified, and I turned in my exam well ahead of the rest of the class. With time to kill, I pulled out my Trig notes and tried to make sense of what Michael had added. I was getting thoroughly lost when abruptly something broke the steady hum of mind-noise around me and caught my attention.
It was familiar, the same chant I’d heard in Nell’s thoughts weeks before. I glanced over at her. Obviously she too had finished her test; she was sitting with her long hair shielding her face.
I carefully avoided any movement that might make her turn, closed my eyes and concentrated on her mind alone. At once there was sharp swell of sound as the anxiety of the other students hit me. I kept my breathing as steady as possible, ignored the other noise and focused.
It was the same circle I’d seen before, in the same clearing, so much more familiar now that I’d been there in person. This time there were only two robed girls, and I saw them standing hand in hand. Then Nell’s perspective shifted, and I saw something else, in the center of the circle. There was pile of rocks, and leaning against it was shadowy figure. Slowly it began to take shape, as Nell’s mind clarified, and with horrifying sickening sense I realized that it was Michael.
The room tilted, just as it had the first time I had listening to Nell’s mind. But this time I fought to keep steady. I gripped my chair and forced my breath to remain even. I didn’t want to lose focus on what Nell was thinking.
The first time was just a trial, and it worked perfectly. Marica wanted to be sure, to know exactly what she could do. And now that we know, it’s time for the main event. She may be able to see the future, but will she see her precious Michael again, before we sacrifice his blood to cleanse our sacred space?
Every cell in my body was poised for flight. I clung to the seat in order to keep myself from bolting out of the classroom and running to find Michael. My heart raced and adrenaline surged—where was he now? English. On the other side of the building. How fast could I get there?
And then Nell resumed her line of thought. Marica has him by now. I could get out of next period, see if I can get out there early. We can take care of him, make sure the clearing is ready for the next part… when she’s our sacrifice.
Before I could react, Nell stood and walked to the front of the classroom. She leaned toward Mr. Frame and whispered something I couldn’t hear, not even in her thoughts. In the teacher’s mind I detected only resigned embarrassment, and he nodded quickly before handing her a pass and waving her away. Nell didn’t even look my way as she moved out the door.
I was stuck. If I tried to leave now, to use an excuse to leave class early after Nell has just done so, Mr. Frame would become suspicious and probably refuse. I’d just have to leave and deal with the consequences later. I was about to slip from my desk when the bell rang.
I jumped as though electrified and pushed through people to get to the door, ignoring the surprised and disgruntled looks. Once in the walkway, I sprinted around crowds and across the patchy grass, all the while glancing desperately from face to face, looking for Michael. Was there still a chance he was here and safe?
The classroom was empty by the time I got there. I turned around immediately and headed toward the parking lot. If what Nell had been thinking was true, Ms. Lacusta had Michael. I knew that by myself I couldn’t save him—not from both Nell and Ms. Lacusta—but I thought I could stall them until help arrived.
But how where would that help come from? Frantically I cast my mind, trying to think of who was where—I didn’t know anyone’s class schedule. I was alone, I didn’t have time to go from room to room looking for someone I trusted—and it would only be a matter of time before a teacher saw me outside without a pass and marched me to the office, where I knew they were less than likely to believe what I had to say.
I have to be calm and think this through, I told myself. There’s an answer, I know. I turned the corner and nearly ran directly into the pay phone.
This phone was something of a school joke, since virtually no one used it. Almost everyone used cell phones, either their own or, if they were like me and didn’t have one, a friend’s. I wasn’t even sure how to use a pay phone. I dug into my change purse, deep in the bottom of my handbag, and found quarters. Isn’t that what they took? I slipped two into the slot, dialed the number of Michael’s cell phone and prayed that he would answer.
But instead of a ring, I heard his voice mail, which meant his phone was turned off. I bit my lip and swallowed hard. Not good. And that had wasted two of my quarters. With every ounce of faith I prayed that I had more—and I breathed a silent prayer of thanks when my fingers closed on two.
This time I punched in the familiar number of the nursery. Marley and Luke, I chanted to myself. Marley and Luke will know what to do.
It was Belinda who answered. She worked in the nursery shop, and I knew her slightly from my visits. I worked hard to keep my voice from shaking as I asked her if Michael was at the nursery.
“No, I haven’t seen him,” she answered. “Marly and Luke are out working on a landscaping job. You know she doesn’t usually go with him, but I guess he talked her into it today—”
I groaned as I interrupted her. “Listen, Belinda. I don’t want to be rude, but it’s very important that I get a message to Marley and Luke. They need to know that Michael is in trouble. Please tell them it’s Nell again, and I’m going over to the clearing, and they have to come fast. I don’t know if they have a phone with them or what, but please—this is an emergency.”
“Should you call the police?” Belinda’s tone was only slightly suspicious and very confused.
“I don’t have time. Or quarters. You can call them if you want. Just please get that message to them.” I hung up the phone before I could waste any more time. As I turned back toward the parking lot, I realized that I was standing right in front of Amber’s locker.
Without taking the time to reason any more, I dug into my backpack and ripped out a sheet of notebook paper and a pen. With a trembling hand, I wrote:
Nell and Ms. L have Michael at the clearing. I am going out there now—send help ASAP. Please.
I underlined the last word and scribbled the time next to my name, folded the sheet and shoved it through the vent in Amber’s locker.
I had done all that I could. I wasn’t sure what would be waiting for me there, but I knew I had to return to Nell’s forest clearing. And this time, I was going by myself.
I stumbled across the parking lot toward my mom’s car. My hands were shaking so much that I could hardly pull the keys out of my bag. My fingers had just touched the cool metal when I felt a prickle at my back, and I heard the low insanity of Nell’s mind.
Before I could take a breath, her weight was pinning me against the car. I heard the madness of her laughter, and then…
…the pain was sudden and intense. It struck at the base of my neck and I couldn’t move. Panic and terror warred for a moment and then there was nothing but darkness.